A GROUP of seven Clayton-le-Moor Harrier runners completed the gruelling Everest Marathon on Monday, raising around £40,000 for charity.

The group consist of previous Everest runner Garry Wilkinson, 41, Neil Worswick, 37, Tyrone Morgan, 41, John Roche, 47, Paralympian Mark Brown, 44, Pete Booth, 55, and Candice Leah, 27.

They have spent 16 days treking to Everest base camp, coping with altitude sickness and the rough terrain, before they completed the 26.2 mile course, which started at an altitude of 17,000 feet and is the highest marathon in the world. It is also described as the "toughest and most inspirational marathon."

They have spent almost a year fundraising for two charities - Kids get Going, a charity for disabled children, and wheelchair athlete Shelly Woods who hopes to compete in the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008.

Garry Wilkinson, who finished third the first time he did it in 1999 in fours hours 38 minutes, came in the top ten with a similar time.

Candice Leah was the third western lady but admitted it was "gruesome" and "the hardest thing I have ever done."